Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley said the partnership is another way in which Kent State is working to have a life-changing impact on the young people of Northeast Ohio.

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“We have already seen the impressive results that the I PROMISE Network is having on its participating students,” Tankersley said. “We are so pleased that Kent State will become the next step in the educational journey of these amazing young people, and so happy that we can start them on their way to exciting careers and lives full of inspiration.”

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Tankersley, however, noted that while Kent State is helping to make the college dream a reality for these students, it is the students who really made it happen.

“The I PROMISE program is built on the ‘earned, not given’ philosophy.  We are so excited that our students that have worked incredibly hard have earned even more life-changing opportunities to grow and excel,” said Michele Campbell, executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation.

“We are so thankful to the entire Kent State family for believing in our students and providing exactly the type of programming and support they need to be successful not only in school, but in life.”